The Canon Institute for Global Studies (CIGS) hosted a seminar on March 23, 2016 inviting Dr. Hanns Günther Hilpert, Head of Research Division of Asia in the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, SWP) in Germany. This is the summary of speech and Q&A.

Abstract of the speech

The last two decades experienced a relative decline in Japanese-European trade. The current negotiations for a Japan-EU Free Trade Agreement are meant to reverse this trend. Eventually the prospective Japan-EU free trade area could become the third largest free trade zone worldwide, only next to the TTIP and TPP. However, neither in Japan nor in Europe the current negotiations do not seem to assume a prominent status in trade policy. The negotiations even run the risk of leading into an impasse. Against this background the presenter is having a closer look on the current negotiation topics and the wider trade policy framework out of a European perspective.